Ilia Malinin's Journey: From Skateboarding to Olympic Stardom
When you think of figure skating, images of precision, artistry, and athleticism come to mind. But what makes this sport so captivating? According to Shae-Lynn Bourne, a former world champion ice dancer for Canada, it's the ability to express oneself on the ice. "We get to express," she says. "It's like our athletic art."
Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old Russian skater, has made figure skating history with his record-breaking performances. He became the first person to land a quadruple Axel in competition at just 18 years old and went on to shatter records in the free skate event.
Malinin's journey began when he was just six years old, playing soccer at a local rink while his parents coached figure skaters for the Soviet Union. It wasn't until he was 12 that he decided to take figure skating seriously, with his parents' guidance.
As Malinin grew in skill and experience, so did his reputation as a talented young skater. He won numerous national titles, including the U.S. juvenile title and the Asian Open Trophy's advanced novice competition. However, his success was marred by injuries, which forced him to miss several major competitions.
Despite these setbacks, Malinin persevered and eventually broke through with a record-breaking performance at the 2022 World Championships. His next move was landing the first quad Axel in competition, followed by a series of other records in the free skate event.
Malinin's coaches, including Tatiana Tarasova and Rafael Arutyunyan, credit him for his maturity and ability to take emotional risks in his programs. "Ilia has no rivals," says Tarasova. "Right now, he has no rivals, and back then, there wouldn't have been any either."
Malinin's latest performances have hinted at a deeper level of storytelling and emotion in his skating. His free skate program, titled "A Voice," features his own words, vulnerable and contemplative, interspersed with music. This approach is a departure from the traditional choreography often seen in figure skating competitions.
"I really believe that the story what they're skating about, being present and committed and having meaning to every move is what brings the audience in," says Bourne. "And if you're captivating the people, you're captivating them, you have to tell stories."
Malinin's program is a reflection of his own journey, from his early days as a skateboarder to his current status as one of the world's top figure skaters. His story is one of courage and uncertainty, struggle and triumph.
When asked about his future goals, Malinin hints at attempting a quintuple jump and continues to push himself in new ways. "Why not go until your body can't do it anymore?" he says with a grin.
As the world watches Ilia Malinin take to the ice for the 2026 Winter Olympics, one thing is clear: his story will be one to remember.
When you think of figure skating, images of precision, artistry, and athleticism come to mind. But what makes this sport so captivating? According to Shae-Lynn Bourne, a former world champion ice dancer for Canada, it's the ability to express oneself on the ice. "We get to express," she says. "It's like our athletic art."
Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old Russian skater, has made figure skating history with his record-breaking performances. He became the first person to land a quadruple Axel in competition at just 18 years old and went on to shatter records in the free skate event.
Malinin's journey began when he was just six years old, playing soccer at a local rink while his parents coached figure skaters for the Soviet Union. It wasn't until he was 12 that he decided to take figure skating seriously, with his parents' guidance.
As Malinin grew in skill and experience, so did his reputation as a talented young skater. He won numerous national titles, including the U.S. juvenile title and the Asian Open Trophy's advanced novice competition. However, his success was marred by injuries, which forced him to miss several major competitions.
Despite these setbacks, Malinin persevered and eventually broke through with a record-breaking performance at the 2022 World Championships. His next move was landing the first quad Axel in competition, followed by a series of other records in the free skate event.
Malinin's coaches, including Tatiana Tarasova and Rafael Arutyunyan, credit him for his maturity and ability to take emotional risks in his programs. "Ilia has no rivals," says Tarasova. "Right now, he has no rivals, and back then, there wouldn't have been any either."
Malinin's latest performances have hinted at a deeper level of storytelling and emotion in his skating. His free skate program, titled "A Voice," features his own words, vulnerable and contemplative, interspersed with music. This approach is a departure from the traditional choreography often seen in figure skating competitions.
"I really believe that the story what they're skating about, being present and committed and having meaning to every move is what brings the audience in," says Bourne. "And if you're captivating the people, you're captivating them, you have to tell stories."
Malinin's program is a reflection of his own journey, from his early days as a skateboarder to his current status as one of the world's top figure skaters. His story is one of courage and uncertainty, struggle and triumph.
When asked about his future goals, Malinin hints at attempting a quintuple jump and continues to push himself in new ways. "Why not go until your body can't do it anymore?" he says with a grin.
As the world watches Ilia Malinin take to the ice for the 2026 Winter Olympics, one thing is clear: his story will be one to remember.
I think figure skating needs more of a sporty vibe, you know? All this emotional storytelling and choreographed movements can get pretty cheesy. Ilia Malinin's skills are insane, don't get me wrong, but all the focus on his personal life and feelings makes it hard for me to take him seriously as an athlete. And what's up with the record-breaking performances? It feels like he's just trying to one-up everyone else instead of focusing on perfecting his craft.
!! his quad axel in competition was insane! I'm not even kidding when i say he's got the skill and artistry that's going to make figure skating go from meh to mainstream for real 
. i love how he's incorporating storytelling into his skating too - it's so refreshing to see skaters taking a risk and being vulnerable on the ice 
. can't wait to see what he does next! maybe we'll even get to see that quintuple jump in action 
I'm obsessed with Ilia Malinin's skating right now! He's like a superhero on the ice 
, and his programs are so emotive and personal. I love how he's been open about his journey from being a skateboarder to becoming an Olympic skater - it's truly inspiring. His music choices for "A Voice" are genius, and I'm not surprised he's been able to tap into this deeper level of storytelling. It makes his skating so much more relatable and human. Can't wait to see what he has in store for us at the 2026 Olympics! 
and can we talk about how brave he is to share his own words in his skating program? it's like, he's not just showing off his skills, but also being vulnerable and honest on the ice 
. and yeah, tatiana tarasova is right, ilia has no rivals rn 
. i'm literally counting down till the 2026 wintertime olympics can't wait to see what he does next!!! 
I find it fascinating how Malinin's journey from skateboarding to Olympic stardom highlights the power of vulnerability and storytelling in figure skating 
. Malinin's maturity and willingness to take risks are evident in his performances, and it's clear that he's not afraid to push himself to new heights 
. His focus on telling stories through movement is a testament to his artistic expression, and I'm excited to see how he'll continue to evolve as an athlete 
.